וּמְנָא תֵּימְרָא דְּאָמְרִינַן כִּי הַאי גַּוְונָא? דִּתְנַן, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: לֹא יִמְכּוֹר אָדָם פָּרָה הַחוֹרֶשֶׁת בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, וּבֵית הִלֵּל מַתִּירִין, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְשׁוֹחֲטָהּ.

Rav Huna added: And from where do you say that in a case like this we say that the animal will be slaughtered, and one is not concerned about placing a stumbling block before the blind, despite the fact that the animal could be used to violate a prohibition? As we learned in a mishna ( Shevi’it 5:8) that Beit Shammai say: A person may not sell a cow that plows in the Sabbatical Year, And Beit Hillel permit selling the cow, since the buyer can slaughter it rather than use it for plowing. This shows that according to Beit Hillel, whose opinion is accepted as halakha , one may assume that an animal will be used for a permitted purpose, rather than for a prohibited action.

אֲמַר רַבָּה: מִי דָּמֵי? הָתָם אֵין אָדָם מְצוּוֶּה עַל שְׁבִיתַת בְּהֶמְתּוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, הָכָא אָדָם מְצוּוֶּה עַל שְׁבִיתַת בְּהֶמְתּוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת!

Rabba said: Are these matters comparable? There, with regard to the Sabbatical Year, a person is not commanded to let his animal rest during the Sabbatical Year, as there is no prohibition against his animal performing labor. Therefore, there is no reason to decree that the sale is prohibited lest he lend, lease, or test the animal. As for the concern that he is misleading the buyer and encouraging him to sin, he may rely on the fact that the buyer probably intends to slaughter the animal. But here, with regard to selling an animal to a gentile, a person is commanded to let his animal rest on Shabbat, and therefore the Sages decreed the sale prohibited in case he comes to lend, lease, or test the animal.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבַּיֵי: וְכָל הֵיכָא דְּאָדָם מְצוּוֶּה אָסוּר? וַהֲרֵי שָׂדֶה, דְּאָדָם מְצוּוֶּה עַל שְׁבִיתַת שָׂדֵהוּ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, וּתְנַן, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: לֹא יִמְכּוֹר אָדָם שְׂדֵה נִיר בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, וּבֵית הִלֵּל מַתִּירִין, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְהוֹבִירָהּ!

Abaye said to Rabba: And does this mean that wherever a person is commanded to allow his possessions to rest it is prohibited to sell an item to one who might use it to perform labor, even if he might also use it for an innocent purpose? But there is the case of a field, as a person is commanded to let his field rest during the Sabbatical Year, and yet we learned in a baraita that Beit Shammai say: A person may not sell a plowed field during the Sabbatical Year, and Beit Hillel permit this sale, since the buyer can let it lie fallow during the Sabbatical Year. In this case, although one is commanded to let his field rest during the Sabbatical Year, he may still sell it under the assumption that the buyer will use the field in a permitted manner.

מַתְקִיף לָהּ רַב אַשִׁי: וְכָל הֵיכָא דְּאֵין אָדָם מְצוּוֶּה שָׁרֵי? וַהֲרֵי כֵּלִים, דְּאֵין אָדָם מְצוּוֶּה עַל שְׁבִיתַת כֵּלִים בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, וּתְנַן, אֵלּוּ הֵן כֵּלִים שֶׁאֵין אָדָם רַשַּׁאי לְמוֹכְרָן בַּשְּׁבִיעִית: הַמַּחֲרֵישָׁה וְכָל כֵּלֶיהָ, הָעוֹל וְהַמִּזְרֶה וְהַדֶּקֶר!

Rav Ashi also objects to Rabba’s statement: And conversely, is it true that wherever a person is not commanded to allow his possessions to rest it is permitted to sell the item? But there is the case of vessels, as a person is not commanded to let his vessels rest during the Sabbatical Year, and yet we learned in a mishna ( Shevi’it 5:6): These are the implements that a person is not allowed to sell during the Sabbatical Year: The plow and all of its appurtenances, the yoke that is used to hitch the cow to the plow, and the winnowing fork, and the stake.

אֶלָּא אֲמַר רַב אַשִׁי: כָּל הֵיכָא דְּאִיכָּא לְמִיתְלָא – תָּלֵינַן וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּמְצוּוֶּה, וְכָל הֵיכָא דְּלֵיכָּא לְמִיתְלֵי – לָא תָּלֵינַן, אַף עַל גַּב דְּאֵינוֹ מְצוּוֶּה.

Rather, Rav Ashi said: Anywhere that it is possible to assign an innocent motive, one assigns such a motive, and this applies even though one is commanded to allow the item to rest. And anywhere that it is not possible to assign an innocent motive, one does not assign an innocent motive, even though one is not commanded to allow the item to rest.

רַבָּה זַבֵּין הַהוּא חֲמָרָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הַחֲשִׁיד לִמְכּוֹר לְגוֹי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבַּיֵי: מַאי טַעְמָא עֲבַד מָר הָכִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל זַבֵּינִי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְהָא אָזֵיל וּמְזַבֵּין לֵיהּ לְגוֹי! לְגוֹי קָא מְזַבֵּין, לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא קָא מְזַבֵּין?

§ The Gemara relates: Rabba sold a certain donkey to a Jew who was suspected of selling large livestock to a gentile. Abaye said to Rabba: What is the reason that the Master acted in this manner? Rabba said to him: I sold the donkey to a Jew. Abaye said to him: But he will go and sell it to a gentile. Rabba responded: Is the only possibility that he will sell to a gentile, and he will not sell it to a Jew? Since there is no reason to assume that he will sell specifically to a gentile rather than to a Jew, there is no problem in selling to him.

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לִמְכּוֹר בְּהֵמָה דַּקָּה לְכוּתִים – מוֹכְרִין, שֶׁלֹּא לִמְכּוֹר – אֵין מוֹכְרִין; מַאי טַעְמָא? אִילֵימָא מִשּׁוּם דַּחֲשִׁידִי אַרְבִיעָה, וּמִי חֲשִׁידִי? וְהָתַנְיָא: אֵין מַעֲמִידִין בְּהֵמָה בְּפוּנְדְּקָאוֹת שֶׁל גּוֹיִם, זְכָרִים אֵצֶל זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת אֵצֶל נְקֵבוֹת, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר נְקֵבוֹת אֵצֶל זְכָרִים וּזְכָרִים אֵצֶל נְקֵבוֹת,

Abaye raised an objection to Rabba’s opinion from a baraita : In a place where the people were accustomed to sell small livestock to Samaritans, one may sell the animals to them; in a place where the people were not accustomed to sell them one may not sell the animals to them. What is the reason that the sale of small livestock to Samaritans is prohibited? If we say that it is because Samaritans are suspected of engaging in bestiality, are they suspected of this practice? But isn’t it taught in a baraita : One may not keep an animal in the inns of gentiles. Male animals may not be placed with men, as they are suspected of engaging in bestiality, and female animals may not be left with women, despite the fact that there is no concern that they may engage in bestiality. And needless to say, it is prohibited to leave female animals with men, and male animals with women.

וְאֵין מוֹסְרִין בְּהֵמָה לְרוֹעֶה שֶׁלָּהֶן, וְאֵין מְיַיחֲדִין עִמָּהֶם, וְאֵין מוֹסְרִין לָהֶם תִּינוֹק לְלַמְּדוֹ סֵפֶר וּלְלַמְּדוֹ אוּמָּנוּת; אֲבָל מַעֲמִידִין בְּהֵמָה בְּפוּנְדְּקָאוֹת שֶׁל כּוּתִים, זְכָרִים אֵצֶל נְקֵבוֹת וּנְקֵבוֹת אֵצֶל זְכָרִים, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר זְכָרִים אֵצֶל זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת אֵצֶל נְקֵבוֹת,

The baraita continues: And one may not entrust an animal to a gentile shepherd, and one may not seclude oneself with gentiles, due to the danger that this entails. And one may not entrust a child to them to teach him how to read books or to teach him a craft. But one may keep an animal in the inns of Samaritans, as they are not suspected of violating a Torah prohibition and engaging in bestiality. Male animals may be placed with women and female animals may be left with men, and needless to say, it is permitted to leave male animals with men and female animals with women.

וּמוֹסְרִין בְּהֵמָה לְרוֹעֶה שֶׁלָּהֶן, וּמְיַיחֲדִין עִמָּהֶם, וּמוֹסְרִין לָהֶם תִּינוֹק לְלַמְּדוֹ סֵפֶר וּלְלַמְּדוֹ אוּמָּנוּת; אַלְמָא לָא חֲשִׁידִי.

The baraita concludes: And one may entrust an animal to a Samaritan shepherd, and one may seclude oneself with Samaritans, and one may entrust a child to them to teach him how to read books and to teach him a craft. The Gemara infers from the baraita : Evidently, Samaritans are not suspected of engaging in bestiality, yet livestock may not be sold to them, as they are suspected of selling it to gentiles.

וְעוֹד תַּנְיָא: אֵין מוֹכְרִין לָהֶם לֹא זַיִין וְלֹא כְּלִי זַיִין, וְאֵין מַשְׁחִיזִין לָהֶן אֶת הַזַּיִין, וְאֵין מוֹכְרִין לָהֶן לֹא סַדָּן וְלֹא קוֹלָרִין, וְלֹא כְּבָלִים וְלֹא שַׁלְשְׁלָאוֹת שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל, אֶחָד גּוֹי וְאֶחָד כּוּתִי;

And furthermore, it is taught in a baraita : One may not sell weapons to gentiles or the auxiliary equipment of weapons, and one may not sharpen weapons for them. And one may not sell them stocks used for fastening the feet of prisoners, or iron neck chains [ kolarin ], or foot chains, or iron chains. This prohibition applies equally to both a gentile and a Samaritan.

מַאי טַעְמָא? אִי נֵימָא דַּחֲשִׁידִי אַשְּׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, וּמִי חֲשִׁידִי? הָאָמְרַתְּ: וּמְיַיחֲדִין עִמָּהֶן! אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּאָתֵי לְזַבּוּנָהּ לְגוֹי!

Abaye analyzes this baraita : What is the reason for the prohibition against selling these items to Samaritans? If we say that they are suspected of bloodshed, that is difficult: But are they suspected of this? Didn’t you say that one may seclude oneself with them, which indicates that they are not suspected of bloodshed? Rather, it is prohibited to sell these items to Samaritans because they will come to sell them to a gentile. According to this reasoning, it should likewise be prohibited to sell a donkey to a Jew who is suspected of selling animals to gentiles.

וְכִי תֵּימָא: כּוּתִי לָא עָבֵיד תְּשׁוּבָה, יִשְׂרָאֵל עָבֵיד תְּשׁוּבָה; וְהָאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ: כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאָמְרוּ אָסוּר לִמְכּוֹר לְגוֹי, כָּךְ אָסוּר לִמְכּוֹר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הֶחָשׁוּד לִמְכּוֹר לְגוֹי! רָהֵיט בַּתְרֵיהּ תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי, וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: פַּרְסָא בְּחָלָא, וְלָא אַדְרְכֵיהּ.

And if you would say that there is a difference between a Jew and a Samaritan, as a Samaritan will likely not repent and will sell to a gentile, whereas a Jew will likely repent and not sell these items, this reasoning is incorrect. But doesn’t Rav Naḥman say explicitly that Rabba bar Avuh says: Just as the Sages said that it is prohibited to sell to a gentile, so too it is prohibited to sell to a Jew who is suspected of selling to a gentile? When Rabba heard this and realized that Abaye was correct, he ran three parasangs after the buyer who purchased his donkey to revoke the sale, as the Jew was suspected of selling to gentiles; and some say that he ran one parasang through sand. But he did not succeed in overtaking him.

אָמַר רַב דִּימִי בַּר אַבָּא: כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאָסוּר לִמְכּוֹר לְגוֹי, אָסוּר לִמְכּוֹר לְלִסְטִים יִשְׂרָאֵל. הֵיכִי דָּמֵי? אִי דַּחֲשִׁיד דְּקָטֵיל – פְּשִׁיטָא, הַיְינוּ גּוֹי!

Apropos the baraita that discusses the prohibition against selling weapons, the Gemara relates that Rav Dimi bar Abba says: Just as it is prohibited to sell to a gentile, it is prohibited to sell to an armed bandit who is a Jew. The Gemara clarifies: What are the circumstances of this prohibition? If the thief is suspected of killing, isn’t it obvious that it is prohibited? After all, he is the same as a gentile. Providing a Jew who might kill with weapons is no different from giving a weapon to a gentile, as in both cases one violates the prohibition: Do not place a stumbling block before the blind.

וְאִי דְּלָא קָטֵיל, אַמַּאי לָא? לְעוֹלָם דְּלָא קָטֵיל, וְהָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן – בְּמַשְׁמוֹטָא, דְּזִימְנִין דְּעָבֵיד לְאַצּוּלֵי נַפְשֵׁיהּ.

And if he is a bandit who does not kill, why not sell to him? The Gemara answers: Actually, Rav Dimi bar Abba is referring to a bandit who does not kill, and here we are dealing with a bandit who steals, as sometimes he makes use of his weapon to save himself when he is caught. Consequently, it is prohibited to sell him weapons in case he kills with them in self-defense.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מוֹכְרִין לָהֶן תְּרִיסִין, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: מוֹכְרִין לָהֶן תְּרִיסִין. מַאי טַעְמָא? אִילֵימָא מִשּׁוּם דְּמַגְנוּ עֲלַיְיהוּ, אִי הָכִי אֲפִילּוּ חִיטֵּי וְשַׂעֲרֵי נַמִי לָא! אֲמַר רַב:

§ The Sages taught: One may not sell shields [ terisin ] to gentiles, despite the fact that they are used for protection, not to attack others. And some say: One may sell shields to them. The Gemara asks: What is the reason behind the opinion that prohibits selling shields to gentiles? If we say it is because they protect them in wartime, if so, then even wheat and barley should not be sold to them. Rav said: